Sharing the faith

[beensetfree]

I don't believe in compulsory evangelism(like Saturday Soulwinning) for every believer and yet when it's appropriate I do want to provide a biblically accurate explanation for Hoping in Jesus.

My prayer lately has been for the LORD to create those moments if that's what I need to do. I'm not ever going to shoehorn the Gospel into conversation. When I've done it before it always felt so contrived. I'm talking about discussing Jesus with family members and people I've known a long time. It's happened quite a lot since last year and without my prompting, it's almost surprising.

But anyway, several years ago as I began to understand Scripture better I realized the woefully inaccurate answers I wanted to avoid to "Why do you believe this to be true?" or "What does being a Christian mean?"
Mainly being, "Because Jesus lives in my heart and I believe."
or "I had an experience and was born again"
or "I used to be really bad but now I'm so much better."

None of those expose any biblical truth about Jesus and only point to me. Nor do I think those things save anyone and are bad representations.
Also, I'm running into more people who have a bad view of what Christianity is about BECAUSE they've heard these things. Like it's based on subjective truth or moralism not OBJECTIVE truth.

I've met several people who know enough biblical background that it's actually allowed discussion about the meta narrative. They grew up with Sunday School Jesus and moralism but didn't know what the Bible is all about. One friend was a nanny for some Jews in NY and wanted to know how Judaism related to Christianity.

Obviously the situations vary on how much you can say; I realize faith is a gift from God. I'm not talking about Amway techniques but how do you lift up the Gospel while avoiding equating your personal testimony with it. Obviously if someone's known you a long time and sees a dramatic change in character that's going to speak for itself, you won't even have to make it a point of discussion. Outside of what people know about you the private details about personal life change aren't very compelling.

Anyway, when you get opportunities to share the faith what do you say?

[notdrinkingthekoolaid]

I have a VERY very hard time with this. I despise the contrived, Christianese language of "witnessing", though I realize it's not necessary to reinvent the wheel when explaining your faith. I look forward to what other people have to say on this.

[Kim G]

I heard a pastor recently talking about a good friend of his who was asking about Jesus. The man was frustrated because he was never good enough for his father, and he had to work long hours to provide for his wife's high standard of living, etc. The pastor told him, "Jesus is the only person who will always love you JUST BECAUSE. You don't have to perform for him. He just loves you." I think that sharing faith is just talking about how awesome Jesus is.

You can't convince anyone that the Bible is true, or that God is real, or that there is a heaven, or that you're not just some misguided and deluded half-wit. Faith is a gift from God. So just tell them about an awesome God and let God give them the gift of faith in his own time.

(If they have specific questions, perhaps giving them a book from a "qualified" source instead of just your own mouth would lend credibility to your position, as well.)

[beensetfree]

(04-26-2012 01:14 PM)notdrinkingthekoolaid Wrote:  I have a VERY very hard time with this. I despise the contrived, Christianese language of "witnessing", though I realize it's not necessary to reinvent the wheel when explaining your faith. I look forward to what other people have to say on this.

Me too!

I've found people have an idea about Jesus but really have no clue about His claims. The biggest sticking point with most people though is their personal sin. It doesn't take a brain surgeon to see the brokenness of this planet but people don't go so far to correlate it to their own sinful condition and will throw down the "I'm good" card even after admitting they are not perfect.

The girl who triggered this post for me today has a degree in Physics so I could talk in absolutes, she accepts that 1+1=2 and isn't trying to deconstruct the universe. She accepts natural law and so forth. Obviously to understand the Cross of Christ requires more than mental ascent but at least I could speak plainly. Again, I'm so thankful I didn't start the conversation as a set up. Something seemed to resonate with her and I'm going to keep praying. It's not my job to convict or reveal, I'll leave that to the Holy Spirit.

If you're talking to someone steeped in Post Modernism or Philosophy, like many of my old friends, it can be more difficult in my opinion to find solid ground.

I agree "witnessing" as it was taught had a formulaic quality about it. If you've grown up around it you know what terms mean and your mind fills in the gaps but the person you're talking to isn't speaking that language. Talking to someone about all this requires defining things not using "magic words". Who is Jesus exactly and why did He come?

Of course the LORD works with earthen vessels and knows our limitations and can use even our feeblest attempts, thankfully.

[beensetfree]

(04-26-2012 02:20 PM)Kim G Wrote:  I I think that sharing faith is just talking about how awesome Jesus is.

I'm loosely paraphrasing Norman Nagel:
If you want to talk about your faith, talk about Jesus.

It's thoughts like these that helped me understand how witnessing is not MY story.

[laurat99]

I've been advised in the past to share a Pre Jesus story, accepted Jesus by faith, then how my life is better with Jesus.

Because it's not quantifiable or super dramatic, it's hard to convey WHAT a change it has been. I now have hope where none was before. I now have purpose, where there was none before. I now see a realm bigger than my own that I have no control over, but believe there is Someone who does. Even though I don't understand why God gave me two boys with autism, I know He did it for a reason. My universe isn't random or karma or just out there. God is, and is in my life.

[beensetfree]

(04-26-2012 03:18 PM)laurat99 Wrote:  I've been advised in the past to share a Pre Jesus story, accepted Jesus by faith, then how my life is better with Jesus.

Because it's not quantifiable or super dramatic, it's hard to convey WHAT a change it has been. I now have hope where none was before. I now have purpose, where there was none before. I now see a realm bigger than my own that I have no control over, but believe there is Someone who does. Even though I don't understand why God gave me two boys with autism, I know He did it for a reason. My universe isn't random or karma or just out there. God is, and is in my life.

As a believer I'm incredibly blessed and praise God to hear your story. I know the kinds of healing and help He gives. My life doesn't compare to yours but I have dramatic deliverance to tell about too. I've had quite a dramatic journey in the past decade and can see God's protection and provision throughout. I think your story definitely has a place and speaks of your hope in Him.

I think often times where we've come from could speak to someone we know or someone in a similar situation and open that door. Obviously we are all different and have personalities and stories that God uses for His glory.

[notdrinkingthekoolaid]

Beautiful testimony, LauraT.

[Mominator]

I actually prayed the "sinner's prayer" when I was 8 and and I really meant it. It is a vivid memory for me. I didn't grow up in church and only attended once in a while.

I came back to the LORD when I was 18 b/c someone had knocked on my parent's door when I was 16 and that got my mom and step dad interested in going. I did walk the aisle and either got saved for sure this time or "rededicated my life" to Him. So, I'm thankful for the doorknockers.

I don't door knock either b/c it's not safe where I live and I don't feel it's right to neglect my kids and go spread the Gospel. I saw so many IFB kids neglected while their parent's where serving/going to church. They feel like being busy for God makes them more spiritual.

I home school my kids so my ministry is to make sure they are saved first and foremost! We left the IFB years ago and I think that gives us more time together as a family.

[Darrell]

I don't have to try to go out of my way to witness to people. I just live my life and I find that strangely enough people ask me about Christianity all the time.

I've had more meaningful conversations and chances to share my beliefs since I quit making a big deal out of it than I ever did when cold calling and knocking on doors.

YMMV.